Published by rob on April 26th, 2006 in DaVinci and claims

When I first heard about all the controversy with the Da Vinci Code, my first reaction included a roll of my eyes.
I wonder what has gotten Christians all ruffled?

For a couple of years, I just ignored Dan Brown’s novel and the stream of articles and sermons coming from Christian groups and churches. When I heard about the movie, my interest was piqued a bit more.
Now I really wonder what’s going to become of this.

I heard all the reaction from concerned Christians and also began hearing Da Vinci Code-related terminology used in pop culture.
Now I’ve gotta find out what this is about.

It’s a great page-turner. Mystery, conspiracy, cover-up, murder, chase, investigation, romance(?). History? Not quite.

I’m not shocked that many people read this novel and think this is the way things are. Or were. Did Brown have an agenda?

I thought for a while Brown was missing facts on purpose — sort his way of saying he didn’t believe it all — that’s it’s just a story. And I went with this thought for weeks.
But he’s got it all wrong!

What does it matter if the Pyramid doesn’t have 666 triangles? What does it matter that the Virgin of the Rocks is painted on wood, not canvas? What does it matter that the Priory of Sion started in the 1970s and not 1099? What does it matter if Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene?
It’s just a novel.

Then I realized that if I was accepting some of his “facts” on face value, what other “facts” would others believe? Certainly not those about Jesus! But they do. He starts the book saying:

FACT:

[clip]

All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.

I was watching a National Geographic Channel Special: Unlocking Da Vinci’s Code/Full Story last week. Brown was asked about Mary being the wife of Jesus and he replied:

I began as a skeptic. As I started researching The Da Vinci Code, I really thought I would disprove a lot of this theory about Mary Magdalene, holy blood and all of that. I became a believer.

Seriously?
What is he basing this on? His “Holy Grail” are stories. Most are recent. Some are older. None are surprising. Just because a story is old doesn’t make it true. You don’t believe everything you read online, do you? Just because something is authentically written doesn’t mean it’s accurate.
I’d rather take the story of Nessie more seriously than his story of Mary!

Don’t get me wrong. I thought the story was gripping. It was funny. I’m looking forward to the movie as some fun summer entertainment.

Josh McDowell was a skeptic too. He’s done a lot more research than I ever will. He went to Europe to learn more about the story of Jesus, just like Brown did. Both skeptics. Two conclusions. One concludes that Jesus was just a man. One concludes Jesus was God. And a lot of this seems to hinge on one historical event, an event we have lots of information on: The Council of Nicea. What was the issue when Constantine brought together over 300 church leaders? The question at hand was not about if Jesus was just a man, it was about whether or not Jesus had always existed.
Spin.

I can see where Brown is coming from. If I thought Jesus was just a man, I could see and follow his logical progressions to get to where he purports to be. But what if Jesus was God? Then it almost seems the spin could go the other way, couldn’t it?

So how is one to decide who’s right? Brown? McDowell?

I’m reminded of an Old Testament passage where Joshua was confronted with the Angel of the Lord and he asked the angel, “Are you on our side, or for our adversaries?” The angel replied, “Neither. I’m here to take over.” I think that’s where my skepticism ended. It’s where yours can end also. It’s not about if McDowell, Brown, or even I am right.

Jesus once asked Peter, “Who do YOU say I am?” If Jesus is a man, he can’t hear you. He’s dead. If Jesus is God, He can hear you. So here’s the challenge: ask Jesus who He is.
I’m not drinking the Dan Brown kool-aid anymore. Tastes like myrrh.